coatings

Editorial
Special Issue “Microstructure, Fatigue and Wear Properties
of Steels”
Xiaoyan Long

Guangdong Key Laboratory of Materials and Equipment in Harsh Marine Environment, Guangzhou Maritime
University, Guangzhou 510725, China; longxiaoyanlxy@163.com

Sustainable manufacturing is a trending topic within the industry. The steel production
process is known to generate carbon emissions; however, to move towards “eco-friendly
steel” production, enhancing steel’s service life is a viable strategy [1,2]. It has been
demonstrated that controlling steel’s microstructure is an effective way to achieve a longer
lifespan for steel products.
Surface modification is a proven technique for enhancing the longevity of steel com-
ponents. Employing coatings as a corrosion prevention strategy not only minimizes the
repair expenses caused by corrosion, but also prevents accidents due to degraded structures
or machinery. Cui et al. [3] examined the corrosion resistance of steel plates coated with
enamel modified by quartz sand. Their findings indicated that these quartz-sand-modified
enamel (QSME) coatings can enhance the corrosion resistance of bare steel by a factor
of 1000. Although the corrosion resistance of these coated plates diminishes with higher
quartz sand content, the size of the sand particles has a negligible impact on corrosion
behavior. This QSME coating is beneficial for extending the lifespan of civil infrastructure
facing chloride-induced degradation. Orihel et al. [4] conducted a study on the properties
and kinetic modeling of boride layers formed on Bohler K190 steel. Their research focused
on the steel produced via powder metallurgy, which was then treated with the boronizing
process. In the study, the maximum thickness of the boronized layers, the redistribution of
elements within these layers, and the transition zone between the layers and the base steel
were analyzed.
Wear resistance is a critical attribute for steels operating under heavy loads and in
high-temperature environments. Luiz et al. [5] explored how different contact scenarios
affect the frictional characteristics of Nb-stabilized AISI 430 stainless steel, known for
Citation: Long, X. Special Issue
its deep drawing quality. They conducted three types of tribological tests: pin-on-disk,
“Microstructure, Fatigue and Wear
bending under tension, and strip-tension, using hard metal (WC-12%Co) samples with
Properties of Steels”. Coatings 2024, 14,
varying surface finishes for both dry and lubricated conditions. They also examined
1250. https://doi.org/10.3390/
coatings14101250
how the strip’s texture and elongation affect formability. The findings indicated that
friction, wear, lubricant performance, and hardness are heavily influenced by surface
Received: 26 September 2024 roughness and the type of friction test. These data can inform design guidelines to enhance
Accepted: 28 September 2024 productivity and product quality. Teng et al. [6] studied the high-temperature friction
Published: 30 September 2024
of 10Mn5 medium manganese steel under real hot stamping conditions using a high-
temperature sliding-on-sheet-strip (SOSS) tribometer. They analyzed the oxide layer’s
structure, the wear surface’s morphology, and the elemental composition. The study
found that 10Mn5 steel had a lower average coefficient of friction than 22MnB5 steel,
Copyright: © 2024 by the author.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
with both having an oxide layer, an alloying element-rich layer, and a matrix. The intact
This article is an open access article
oxide layer of 10Mn5 steel provided superior wear protection, with wear primarily caused
distributed under the terms and by abrasion and slight adhesion. The difference in wear mechanisms was attributed to
conditions of the Creative Commons the austenitizing temperatures, with 10Mn5 steel requiring temperatures about 100 ◦ C
Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// lower than 22MnB5, reducing thermal stress and wear. Kyryliv et al. [7] investigated
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ how different deformation modes during mechanical pulse treatment (MPT) affect the
4.0/). formation of nanocrystalline structures and wear resistance in 41Cr4 steel. They found that

Coatings 2024, 14, 1250. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14101250 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/coatings

multidirectional deformation during MPT led to smaller grain sizes and increased surface
layer depth and microhardness, enhancing wear resistance compared to unidirectional
deformation. Cao et al. [8] examined the tribological properties of the 40Cr/GCr15 pair
under unidirectional rotary and reciprocating dry sliding. They discovered that rotary
sliding resulted in a more stable friction coefficient and superior wear resistance. The study
concluded that the metamorphic structure and microhardness of the tribo-layer, influenced
by sliding, are key determinants of tribological performance.
Wear simulation is proving to be a valuable tool in materials research. Hao et al. [9]
explored the wear characteristics of a 3-D fractal rough surface, utilizing fractal theory
and Hertz contact theory to understand how wear deformation depth correlates with
real contact area. They developed models for calculating wear over time on both worn
and unworn surfaces, providing a comprehensive view of how wear changes the surface
topography. This research could guide the design and production of better friction pairs.
In addition, low-cycle fatigue (LCF) is a common failure mode for engineering
components. Lv et al. [10] investigated the LCF behavior of a novel martensitic steel
(22MnSi2CrMoNi) and maraging steel (00Ni18Co9Mo4Ti). They discovered that the pres-
ence of retained austenite and precipitated phases in the matrix can significantly enhance
the fatigue life of these steels. These findings are crucial for improving the durability of
steel components in cyclic loading conditions.
In addition to advancements in steel technology, the development of high-performance
composite materials is a pivotal area of research, particularly as they are increasingly be-
ing used as alternatives to traditional metal components. For instance, long glass-fiber-
reinforced polypropylene (LGFR-PP) composites with integrated stiffeners are becoming
significant replacements for metal parts in the automotive industry, especially in the pursuit
of vehicle weight reduction [11]. These materials not only offer similar performance charac-
teristics, but also contribute to resource optimization, a key objective for materials scientists.

Conflicts of Interest: The author declares no conflicts of interest.

References
1. Long, X.; Zhang, Y.; Liu, W.; Zhang, Z.; Zhu, R. Microstructure, Fatigue, Wear Properties of Steels. Coatings 2022, 12, 1818.
[CrossRef]
2. Long, X.; Zhang, Y.; Sun, D.; Yin, D.; Liu, W.; Zhang, Z.; Zhang, F.; Li, Y. Study on the Influence of Pre-Formed Phase on
Accelerating Bainitic Transformation. Coatings 2023, 13, 1700. [CrossRef]
3. Cui, H.; Tang, F.; Li, B.; Lin, Z. Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Quartz Sand-Modified Enamel-Coated Steel Plates.
Coatings 2023, 13, 1704. [CrossRef]
4. Orihel, P.; Jurči, P.; Keddam, M. Characterizations and Kinetic Modelling of Boride Layers on Bohler K190 Steel. Coatings 2023,
13, 1000. [CrossRef]
5. Luiz, V.D.; Santos, A.J.d.; Câmara, M.A.; Rodrigues, P.C.d.M. Influence of Different Contact Conditions on Friction Properties of
AISI 430 Steel Sheet with Deep Drawing Quality. Coatings 2023, 13, 771. [CrossRef]
6. Teng, H.; Wang, Y.; Wang, W.; Zhao, Y.; Wei, X.; Zhao, H. The Oxide Layer of 10Mn5 Medium Manganese Steel for Wear Protection
in High-Temperature Friction during Hot Stamping. Coatings 2023, 13, 570. [CrossRef]
7. Kyryliv, V.; Maksymiv, O.; Gurey, V.; Hurey, I.; Kyryliv, Y.; Zvirko, O. The Mode Deformation Effect on Surface Nanocrystalline
Structure Formation and Wear Resistance of Steel 41Cr4. Coatings 2023, 13, 249. [CrossRef]
8. Cao, J.; Teng, H.; Wang, W.; Wei, X.; Zhao, H. Tribological Properties of the 40Cr/GCr15 Tribo-Pair under Unidirectional Rotary
and Reciprocating Dry Sliding. Coatings 2022, 12, 557. [CrossRef]
9. Hao, Q.; Yin, J.; Liu, Y.; Jin, L.; Zhang, S.; Sha, Z. Time-Varying Wear Calculation Method for Fractal Rough Surfaces of Friction
Pairs. Coatings 2023, 13, 270. [CrossRef]
10. Lv, B.; Xia, S.; Zhang, F.; Yang, G.; Long, X. Comparison of Novel Low-Carbon Martensitic Steel to Maraging Steel in Low-Cycle
Fatigue Behavior. Coatings 2022, 12, 818. [CrossRef]
11. Nie, J.; Gao, W.; Li, G. Buckling Characteristics of Different Cross-Sectioned LGFR-PP Stiffeners under Axial Compression.
Coatings 2023, 13, 763. [CrossRef]

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